Shoe tap



Dec. 25, 1951 I P. KURKJIAN ETAL 2,579,677

SHOE TAP Filed Oct. 13, 1950 EDWARD J. DERDER/AN PHILLIP KUR/(J/AN INVENTORS HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL,

HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1951 SHOE TAP Phillip Kurkjian, Selma, and Edward J. Derderian, Fresno, Calif.

Application October 13, 1950, Serial No. 190,032

4 Claims.

The,- present invention' relates to shoe taps and more particularly to the combination of a hollow tap enclosing a clapper productive of novel sound effects.

Dance taps for attachment to dance shoes; for creating rhythmic effects in tap dancing are well known, These taps have conventionally been made of a single piece of sheet or cast metal formed in such a manner that when attached to. dance shoes and tapped on the floor, as in tap dancing, cause a desired clacking or clicking sound. There has been developed a technique in tap dancing in which it, is desirable for the taps to provide additional clacking sounds independent of the striking of the taps on the floor.

It is an object of the present inventionto provide an improved dance tap which is adapted to the production of such additional or auxiliary sounds.

Another object is to provide a dance tap embodying rattling members which produce clack, ins sounds on, oscillative motion or the feet of a p rformer emp oyin the same.

Another object is to provide a dance tap in which additional rhythmic effects can be obtained over theconventional one piece taps heretofore used on tap, dance shoes. 7

Another object is to provide dance taps pro ductive of clacking sounds independent of floor contact. l

A further object is to provide in a shoe tap having a, circular chamber, clapper members in the chamber of geometric shapes precluding nonclappin rotation of the members in the chamber.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a, shoe provided with a dance tap of the construction of the present invention.

Figure 2v is av fragmentary somewhat enlarged bottom plan view of the shoe and the dance tap attached to the heel thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical fragmentary longitudinal section through the portion of the shoe and dance tap shown in Figure 2, as taken along line 3-3 thereof.

Figure 4 is an explodedperspective view lllustrating the various members of the dance tap of the present invention; v

Referring in greater details to the drawing:

. In Figure l of the drawing is illustratedashoe,

indicated generally by the reference numeral H),

having a heel H to which a dance tap of the present invention is attached. The heel is recessed upwardly from its. lower surface with a cylindrical bore I2 having a shallow counter-re cess t3, the counter-recess l3 preferably opens to the outer edge f the heel of the shoe. In instances in which the heel is composed of rub,. ber, the recess t2 and counter-recess [3 are molded as the heel is originally formed, and when the heel is of leather composition, the recess 12 and counter-recess l3 may be cut from the layers or laminations of leather forming the heel.

The dance tap of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral l5 and includes a cup l8 conveniently stamped from a piece of sheet metal, cast, or otherwise formed. The cup is provided with a circular upper end portion l1, an integral cylindrical side portion [8, and an integral radially extended flange I9. The cup I6 is slightly shallower than the depth of the recess l2 and the cylindrical side portion l8 thereof is. of slightly smaller outer diameter than the diameter of the recess 12 so that when the cup is inserted in the recess 12, the bottom and cylindrical side of the cup may be spaced from the bottom and sides of the recess. The flange [9 of the cup H3 is fitted to the counterrecess [3 and provided with a plurality of per--. forations 2E: therethrough for attachment of the, cup interiorly of the recess I2 as hereinafter more fully described. This flange is preferably formed with an arcuate edge ll to fitthe contour of the heel of the shoe.

A sheet metal cover plate 24., substantiallycongruent to the peripheral extremities of the flange I9 is located against the flange i9 and to! gather the flange and plate are positioned in the counter-recess l3. The counter-recess is formed to a depth to receive the flange l9 and, contacting cover plate 24 with the outer surface of the cover plate substantially flush with the lower surface of the heel II. The cover plate 24 is provided with a plurality of perforations 25 therethrough aligned with the perforations 20 on the flange i9 so that nails 26, screws, or the like may be passed throu h the perforations 25 and 2t!) and into the heel ll of the shoe to hold the cover plate securely to. the flange [9 and to hold the cup l6 securely in the recess I! in spaced relation to the sides and bottom thereof. The cover plate is formed with an arcuate edge 21 identical to the arcuate edge 21 on the flange Hi to conform with the heel'periphery. he 3. l and cover plate 24 constitute a. housing adapted. to enclose a spherical clapper scribed, is that of circular rolling or skidding of the clappers employed around the cylindrical Walls of the portion i8. When so moving, the clappers fail to perform their intended functions. This lack of dependability'is obviously intolerable in such a structure and is successfully overcome by employment of a spherical and a cylindrical clapper. A spherical clapper, when employed alone, frequently has imparted thereto a circular rolling movement. A cylindrical clapper, when employed alone,.frequently has imparted thereto a circular sliding movement. The coaction of the cylindrical clapper 3G and the spherical clapper 29 in the cylindrical chamber provided therefor obviates such circular movement and assures uniform operation. Circular rolling of the member 29 is precluded by the cylindrical clapper and any extensive circular sliding of the cylindrical clapper precluded by the strikin of the spherical clapper thereagainst.

Operation a shoe as shown and described, the tap is ready for use in producing additional rhythmic sounds in a tap dance. The cup [6, being located within the recess 82 in spaced relation thereto, and the cover plate 213 located over the cup it provide a vibratory sound chamber for the clacking sounds made by the clappers 29 and 30 as they strike the cylindrical side of the cup. llhe joint mounting of the cup and cover plate and their abutting relationship causes the plate to act as a sounding board.

The combination of a ball clapper 29 and cylindrical clapper 38 is provided for more effective operation of the dance tap in creating audible clicking sounds. Their coaction precludes non-clacking rotation thereof around the inner periphery of the cylindrical side portion 18, as previously described.

The extension of the plate 24 to the edge of the heel I and the provision of arcuate edges 2| and 2? on the flange l9 and cover plate 24, respectively, at the edge of the heel permits the direct striking of the device of the present invention on the floor when desired. It is further to be observed that the edge 2'! provides the wear resisting function of a heel plate.

Although we have herein shown and described our invention in what we have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of our invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and structures.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe tap comprising a metallic cylindrical cup having a closed end and an open end, a radially extended flange integral with the cup in circumscribing relation to the open end of the cup adapted to mount said cup in spaced relation to the walls and bottom of a recess formed in a shoe, a metallic cover plate substantially congruent to the flange mounted in covering relation to the cup and therewith defining a housing, a spherical clapper loosely enclosed by the housing, and a cylindrical clapper loosely enclosed by the housing, said clappers having diameters appreciably less than the spacing of the closed end of the cup and the cover plate.

2. In combination with a shoe having a cylindrical recess in the heel thereof, a cylindrical metallic cup of a diameter less than the diameter of the recess and a length less than the axial length of said recess having a closed axial end and an open opposite end, a flange radially extended in circumscribing relation from the open end of the cup, a cover plate substantially'congruent to the flange arranged in covering rela tion to the cup and therewith defining a housing, a spherical clapper loosely enclosed in the cup by the plate, a cylindrical clapper loosely enclosed in the cup by the plate, and means extended through the plate and flange into the shoe mounting the cup within the recess in spaced relation to the sides and end thereof with the plate substantially flush with the lower surface of the heel of the shoe. 7

3. In combination with a shoe having a recess formed in the bottom thereof defined by circumscribing walls and a bottom; a metallic'cup hav-'- ing circumscribingside 'walls, a closed end, an open end, and a radially extended flange integral with the cup in circumscribing relation to the open'end of the cup; a metallic cover plate substantially congruent to the flange positioned in covering relation to the cup and therewith defining a housing; means passed through the cover plate and the flange engaged in the shoe mounting the cup in the recess with the walls of the cup in spaced relation to the walls of the recess and the closed end of the cup in spaced relation to the bottom of the, recess; and a clapper loosely enclosed in the housing. l

4. In combination with a shoe having a recess formed in the bottom thereof defined by circumscribing Walls and a bottom; a metallic cup having circumscribing side walls, a closed end, an open end, and a radially extended flange integral with the cup in circumscribing relation to the open end of the cup; a metallic cover plate substantially congruent to the flange positioned in covering relation to the cup and therewith defining a housing; means passed through the cover plate and the flange engag d n the shoe. mounting the cup in the recess with the walls of the cup in spaced relation to the walls of the recess and the closed end of the cup in spaced relation to the bottom of the recess; a spherical clapper loosely enclosed by the housing; and a cylindrical clapper loosely enclosed by the hous ing, said clappers having diameters less than the spacing of the closed end of the cup and the cover plate. I V

PHILLIP KURKJIAN. EDWARD J. DERDERIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

